What's the rarest color today?

[Douglas]

We've talked about favorite color combos, but what in your opinion is the rarest factory color in your opinion?

My vote would be for copper:

http://www.sl113.org/forums/uploaded/280sl71/200462075256_Copper_Car.jpg

As for interiors, I would say aquamarine.

Related question: Has anyone ever seen a customized color from the factory on a Pagoda?

Douglas Kim
New York, NY
280 SL #016220

[Bob G ✝︎]

I saw two cooper colored Pagodas and I do not care for the color. I think DB -180 Silver is much more rare because of the hues of green and blue used in the mix. It is not too often you see this color done right.

Bob Geco

[Ed Cave]

Douglas:

That's a pretty interesting question. According to information in the Data Section of Meredith's Original Mercedes SL (I know, I know) over its production span from '63 to '71 Pagodas were painted in one (or two) of an amazing 47 different colors.

These include (10) different blues, (9) different reds and (9) different colors with the word 'grey' in the name.

I'm not sure I have a good answer to your question but I'm certain it will spawn a variety of answers.

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[Ben]

Wow !  That copper colour is amazing. Pretty funky......I like it 'cos its different but I'm not sure I could live with it and I definitely wouldn't have been brave enough to order one when new !

I think Dan mentioned a strwberry red metallic before and someone came up with a photo. It looked well but again too funky for me !

The DB180 colour is very common in the UK, particularly with red interiors, but a lot of cars wearing that combo were restored that way.

Aquamarine interior sounds nice, any pictures ?  Isn't there a green leather thats quite rare ?  

Also I've only ever seen 2 black Pagodas, one original here in Ireland and the one on the Total Restore video.Looks good with red but I'm sure its common enough in the US where black cars really shine !  

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Jonny B]

I can sure understand why the copper would be rare. I would agree with Ben and Bob. I do not have the list of codes to scan through to prompt me for colors to consider, but the strawberry metallic is one that does pop to mind. BTW the classic center in Fellbach had an early 230SL in that color on the floor, for some ridiculous amount of Euros, and there were a number of non-original touches.

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[waltklatt]

I have to add that I'm working on a friend's 1965 230SL that originally had turqoise vinyl interior, but has long since changed to navy blue.  Has a white exterior.
I would say the rarest color is the green color series as there are not many with green, especially the metallic green(moss green metallic), I have seen literally 100's of pagodas and most of them are the reds, blues, silvers, cream(ivory, off white, beige, brown, tan) and neutral colors(white, black and grey).
I have seen several of the strawberry red metallic, but that's not the rare color for the W113SL's, but for the 300SL gullwings and cabriolets.
How about a W113SL in gleaming polished chrome look?  Yikes-bring out the sunglasses!
Walter
1963 230SL-navy w/ red leather
1967 220SL diesel-silver w/ black tex

[Ed Cave]

In my previous posting I mentioned that Laurence Meredith lists 47 different colors in the data section of Original Mercedes SL. Now, while we all recognize that the data in this book is not 100%, he does list (9) different reds, none of which are referred to as Strawberry Red Metallic, a color suggested in several previous posts.

For what its worth, Meredith lists the following RED body paints:

501  Red                        (250sl)
516  Mid Red                    (230sl)
519  Light Red                  (230/250sl)
542  Dark Red                   (250/280sl)
567  Lasu Red Metallic          (230/250sl)
568  Signal Red                 (230/250/280sl)
571  Red Metallic               (230/250/280sl)
573  Dark Red Bordeaux          (230sl)
576  Red                        (280sl)

All of that and no Strawberry Red. If there was a line of nine Pagodas, one painted in each of the red colors listed above, would anyone (other than maybe Douglas) be able to assign the appropriate color to each car?

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA

1964 356C
1971 280SL
2002 SC430
2004 A4 3.0

[Jonny B]

Ed raises and interesting question. I looked through the codes in Engelen's book. The ones Ed has listed are the only red's for the 113 cars. However, there are two other reds listed for the 190SL

(I will leave it to someone else for the translation)
534 - feuerwehrrot (fire engine red??)
543 - erdbeerrotmetallic (which is the strawberry red, correct?)



Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[gmwood]

My 280SL is 571 Red metallic ... I am trying to find Photo's  of another one to compare the colour ( original or NOT) ..

[Naj ✝︎]

gmwood,

Download Attachment: MetRed029.JPG
49.9 KB

naj

[glcg123]

Here is a picture of my 1965 230SL, 4 speed with acquamarine leather interior. The Data Card number for the interior is 217.
Code 217 =  Color No 1101 = Türkis = blue-green. C.F.Roser Leather.
The MB code is 1011.

I can actually get this leather from a compnay in Germany. They have the original leather sample form the early 60's. However, they need a minimum order of 5 hides. My seats are in acceptable shape but one never knows what can happen with a 40 year old seat. Anyone out there have this colour as well?

George  

Download Attachment: Interior view resized.JPG
30.21 KB

[hauser]

Yeah I'd have to agree that copper is pretty rare.  With the pic Doug posted that makes a totl of two for me.



1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[Chad]

I would agree that seeing a copper color car is rare, and after seeing that picture I definitely understand why it is/should be so rare on a 113. But it is just a matter of different tastes. Many more sedans from the 70s were painted this color. 116 chassis mostly, I think.

Anyway, I don't think that the silver metallic is very rare, Bob, there seem to be a number of them out there painted DB 180. I think that the "220SLD" is freshly painted DB 180...isn't it?
Clatta-clatta.

Someday I wonder if mine ever will be finally finished in the DB 180 I like.

[keesing]

Here is another Metalic Red... car is for sale on OurSL...

[:0]

Download Attachment: 68 met red 280sl.jpg
82.8 KB

[hauser]

One more Met Red to add to the list.  http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-SL-Class-Beautiful-1971-280SL-One-of-the-Last-Built_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ6338QQitemZ4618275151QQrdZ1

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[rob walker]

Ben I have the green leather you mentioned. Was not sure at first but now sold as it looks great with the papyrus body and green soft top.

Download Attachment: IMG_0565a.JPG
79.12 KB

Rob Walker

1968 280SL papyrus white/green leather
2004 230 SLK silver

[Ben]

Rob thanks for the photo..............I really like it a lot !

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.

[Chad]

Here's another metallic red SL... ha ha. Yikes!

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1973-Mercedes-Benz-PRO-STREET_W0QQitemZ4618003425QQcategoryZ6338QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Jonny B]

Yowzer! What an SL! The scoop out the hood is one must have accessory??

Jonny B
1967 250SL Auto

[Ed Cave]

Wow Chad. I haven't lost my lunch  :x  in quite some time but that almost caused me to. What in the world would posess someone to destroy a Mercedes Benz like that and do it on purpose? [:0]

Ed Cave
Atlanta, GA


1971 280SL
1973 911S
2004 A4 3.0
2006 GS430

[Chad]

The rainbow striping on the sides over the "metallic red" must have been a very rare paint code.

[Peter van Es]

It's a toy car. It's got training wheels at the back.

Peter

Check out http://bali.esweb.nl for photographs of classic car events and my 1970 280 SL

[hauser]

One important thing to mention is that it's a Prototype!

1969 280sl 5 spd
Gainesville, Fl.

[KSalzer]

"Here is a picture of my 1965 230SL, 4 speed with acquamarine leather interior. The Data Card number for the interior is 217. Anyone out there have this colour as well?"


Well, well. I finally meet another SL owner with a turquoise interior... I was feeling pretty lonely! Attached is my '66 with 112 (vinyl) interior, exterior 716 (grey-beige, also pretty unusual). Unfortunately it's been kinda crappy weather in Santa Monica, so I'm posting an old photo with the interior barely visible, but you get the idea. I had never seen a turquoise interior until I bought it this one in 1994. I had looked at other, more common colors (red, white, blue), and when I saw this, I figured it suited me.

It's since placed third in three different Germanfests at Lars Anderson in Boston (in the people's choice category) due, I believe, to the color combo, as there were many other SLs in each of the events in much better condition. The color seems to be fairly polarizing: people either love it for its period look (mine was originally ordered by a Miami dealership, which explains a lot) or just don't feel it's "classic" SL. Those who like it just smile, which says to me that they get it.

I was pleasantly surprised to see a 190sl at the aforementioned Boston concours with a turquoise interior and PLAID seat inserts (where our perforated seat surfaces now are), which was stunning, believe it or not, in a '50's, Doris Day kinda way. It was really ideal for a 190sl and clearly our turquoise interior is a holdover from that era.

The downside is that the turquoise vinyl color is no longer made. If anyone knows of a source (GAHH and World don't have it) let me know. George, if you wish to email me offline with info about your leather source in Germany, my address is krismarcia@earthlink.net. I'd be curious as to whether they might also have some of the 112 vinyl left as well.

Anyone else with a turquoise/aquamarine interior? Should we start our own forum? All two of us? Javascript:insertsmilie(' ')

Kris

Download Attachment: IMG_991.jpg
69.73 KB

[Benz Dr.]

190SL's never had cloth seat inserts. Gullwings did and so this was done to make it look more like one of those cars. Many 190SLR's have cloth seat inserts but the seats are usually the early bucket type and I'm sure that the one you saw was like that too.

190SL's normally have leather interiors but you could special order them in vinyl. I've never seen one in 30 years of looking so I doubt it was popular.

Dan Caron's
 SL Barn
benzbarn@ebtech.net
 slbarn.mbz.org
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